We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

Should People Be Concerned About Declining Sperm Counts?

Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Sperm counts in men all around the globe seem to be plummeting, and scientists aren’t sure why. A 2022 study published in the journal Human Reproduction Update – a meta-analysis of 223 previous studies – looked at 57,000 men in 53 countries across six continents. The study found that from 1973 to 2018, the average sperm concentration fell by 51.6 percent – from 104 million to 49 million per milliliter of semen. Total sperm counts fell by 62.3 percent during the same period. Looked at another way, sperm counts dropped by 1.2 percent a year from 1973 to 2000, "which is a lot," said epidemiologist Hagai Levine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who helped lead the research. From 2000 to 2018, the decline was 2.6 percent per year, "which is an amazing pace," he said.

But should people be concerned? In the near future, this is unlikely to cause major reproductive issues for humanity as a whole because the average sperm concentration of 49 million per milliliter is still above the 40 million threshold below which fertility may be affected. Sperm count is not an entirely reliable way to measure fertility, and some scientists have suggested that the data may partly reflect improved accuracy in counting sperm levels with modern techniques. However, Levine notes that this lower average sperm concentration means that many men are below the 40 million threshold, so it may take longer to have children, and very large families may become less likely.

An alarming decline?

  • “I think this is another signal that something is wrong with the globe and that we need to do something about it. So yes, I think it’s a crisis, that we [had] better tackle now, before it may reach a tipping point which may not be reversible,” Levine said, with many other scientists echoing his concerns.

  • There are many factors that can reduce a man’s sperm count, such as environmental toxins, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, poor diet, and obesity. On the other hand, an active lifestyle and a healthy diet may help boost sperm levels.

  • Obesity appears to be quite a significant factor. When a man carries excess weight, his hormone levels change, with an increase in estrogen. The male reproductive organs can also be affected by increased temperature linked to an unhealthy weight.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.